Calculating Work to Stop a 1000 kg Car at 100 km/hr

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To calculate the work required to stop a 1000 kg car traveling at 100 km/hr, the kinetic energy formula KE=1/2mv^2 is used, assuming no friction. The speed conversion from km/hr to m/s is crucial, with 100 km/hr equating to approximately 27.7 m/s. After calculations, one user arrives at 383,645 J, while the book states 386,000 J. The discrepancy arises from the book using a more precise conversion factor for speed. Accurate dimensional analysis is essential for obtaining the correct value in joules.
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How much work is required to stop a 1000 kg car traveling at 100 km/hr?

I was going to use KE=1/2mv^2 , since the work should equal the KE, assuming no friction.

I have: =1/2(1000 kg)(100km/hr)^2

I was using dimensional analysis to make the conversion to m/s, so I end up with J, but I think I'm doing something wrong in the conversion.

(1000 km/hr)(1000 m/1 km)(3600 sec/1 hr)
 
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rueberry said:
How much work is required to stop a 1000 kg car traveling at 100 km/hr?

I was going to use KE=1/2mv^2 , since the work should equal the KE, assuming no friction.

I have: =1/2(1000 kg)(100km/hr)^2

I was using dimensional analysis to make the conversion to m/s, so I end up with J, but I think I'm doing something wrong in the conversion.

(1000 km/hr)(1000 m/1 km)(3600 sec/1 hr)
To get Joules, the conversion factor from km/hr to m/s is: 1000/3600 = .277. 1 km/hr = .277 m/sec; 100 km/hr = 27.7 m/sec.

AM
 
When I work that problem out, I get 383645J, but the answer in the book says 386,000J. Am I doing something wrong? If I use 27.7 m/sec in the equation, I get

1/2(1000kg)(27.7m/sec)=383645
 
The book is using the ratio 100*1000/3600 [=27 7/9] and not the approximation 27.7 m/s.
 
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